| Last year I appeared in a Broadway musical. I was | | | | 2. If money and time were no object (you need this |
| not a major character, but it was a major event. For | | | | to dream big), what places on earth would I love to |
| three years I had had on my Life List "See a | | | | see? |
| Broadway show." And now there I was, sitting up on | | | | 3. What are all the things I can think of right now |
| stage waiting for my turn as a contestant in a | | | | that I'd love to do during my lifetime, no matter |
| musical spelling bee. I lost after the second round, but | | | | what other people think?It helps not to organize your |
| I didn't lose at all. I got to check off two items from | | | | thoughts. Just start with a clean page and write, |
| my Life List--the one about seeing a Broadway | | | | write, write. You can be neat later. You can be |
| show, and also "Do something truly gutsy at least | | | | practical much, much later. For now, just think and |
| twice a year."Creating a Life List gives us vision and | | | | dream. See what it is you actually want out of this |
| direction. We may have a vague notion about what it | | | | life. See who you really are, underneath that rational, |
| is we want to do, see, and experience in our | | | | grown-up exterior.And when you think you've listed |
| lifetimes, but writing those things down is often the | | | | everything that's on your mind right now, pick one |
| first and most important step in accomplishing our | | | | item off the List. Want to learn French? Take the |
| dreams.I separated my List into three categories:1. | | | | first step. Look on-line at your community college |
| Skills I want to learn | | | | catalog. Scan your library's website for language |
| 2. Places I want to go | | | | tapes you can check out. Or even rent a French |
| 3. Experiences I want to haveBecause of my Life | | | | movie to put yourself in the mood. It doesn't matter |
| List, I've backpacked in Iceland, learned to make fire | | | | how small or large the step is--what matters is taking |
| by rubbing two sticks together, completed and sold | | | | it at all.Dreaming is wonderful, writing it down is even |
| two novels--the List goes on and on.And it does go | | | | better, but it's still up to you to walk forward. Do |
| on and on. Because as soon as I can check off one | | | | just one thing every day or at least every week on |
| item, I make sure to add another to the List. There | | | | your own behalf. More things are possible than we |
| is always more to learn, more to try.So here's my | | | | know.Now let's practice finding that out.Robin Brande |
| challenge to you: Sit down for an hour tonight, or get | | | | is a novelist, award-winning short story author, and |
| up tomorrow and spend some time alone, and ask | | | | public speaker. |
| yourself:1. What do I still want to learn? | | | | |